Ever wonder how an expert fitness blogger maintains a healthy weight? Well, these influential bloggers shared their stories and tips on how to lose weight the right way. They all have their own ways of doing things. But, they all pretty much agree on one thing: To maintain a healthy weight, you must live a healthy lifestyle.
What has been the key for you in your weight loss journey?
Response from Brandi Laughlin at mamalaughlin.com:
“I would definitely have to say realizing that this is a lifestyle change and not just a quick fix. At first I just thought I would lose the weight and would be able to go back to my old eating habits and lazy lifestyle, and that really can’t happen.
You have to keep plugging along every day and keep going, no matter what. You’ll have hiccups and mistakes, but as long as you keep moving forward that’s what counts. A whole lot of baby steps add up to big results with consistency.”
When trying to lose weight, what is your recommendation when it comes to eating carbohydrates?
Response from Jan “Crabby” Graham at crankyfitness.com:
“The carbs question is really confusing, because there is so much contradictory information out there. While this is a bad thing if you want to find reliable advice, it’s a great thing if you want to do whatever the heck you want, because whatever you want to try, SOME expert or other is going to back you.”
Do you have a weight loss diet that you think produces results while allowing for flexible food choices?
Response from Roni Noone at greenlitebites.com:
“I no longer follow ‘weight loss diets’ my goal is to eat yummy, healthy food in moderation. I really don’t think there is a silver bullet. I’ve found success by enjoying the process of trying new, healthy foods and watching my portions.”
What is the number 1 recommendation you have for someone who is traveling and wants to stay on the healthy bandwagon?
Response from Julie Wilcox at juliewilcoxmethod.com:
“When you travel, it’s important to stick to your daily meal plans no matter what. Don’t let travel be an excuse to let your discipline and hard work fall to the wayside. In order to stay on the healthy bandwagon, you must prepare yourself in advance for your trips, which requires advance researching and planning.
Bring your food for the plane. Choose a hotel that has healthy menus – so many hospitality brands are embracing wellness today! Pack healthy snacks with you so that while at your destination, you are never stuck with poor options. If you will be eating out a lot, go to restaurants that serve lots of vegetables, whole grains and fish. Watch out for and skip the fattening sides!
If you’re traveling or staying with friends, make your diet known to them in advance in an unobtrusive way. Finally, allow yourself to splurge but only on the one or two most important things. And then, exercise!”
What equipment would you recommend most for the busy person who prefers to work out at home?
Response from Danny at treadmillreviews.com:
“We find that equipment that offer a versatile workout are the best for those that prefer to workout from home. A treadmill that offers ways to multitask also makes working out from home more enjoyable. Busy people always enjoy the models that allow for easy reading, music integration and TV screen setup.”
You’re very involved in the racing community. What is in your pre-event diet?
Response from Phong Chieng at trail-running-blog.com:
“Like most runners, I try to carbo-load a day or two before my race. This usually includes a big bowl of pasta and bread sticks with lots of water.
I’ve never been a big breakfast eater and the thought of eating any food at 5AM never appealed to me. I usually stick with a banana and half a granola bar an hour before my race and that has usually been enough.”
What events would you recommend for those who want to lose weight and have fun at the same time?
Response from Roni Noone at ronisweigh.com:
“I would highly recommend signing up for a local 5k even if you don’t currently run or even consider yourself a runner. I can honestly say my first 5k changed my life. I never ran before. I wasn’t a high school athlete or even active as a child. I still even have a hard time calling myself a runner (even though I’ve since completed a marathon and am training for another.)
All that being said, the energy, support and motivation you get a running event can’t be matched. Find one a few months out and then start training with a program like C25k or something similar.”
What would you recommend for people who focus solely on cardio to lose weight?
Response from Brandi Laughlin at mamalaughlin.com:
“I actually lost the bulk of my weight by focusing solely on cardio and eating better, BUT it’s been weight lifting that has really helped shape my body and give me muscle definition. I kind of slowly progressed into lifting, but the best way to drop fat is a combination of cardio and strength training.
You’ve got to figure out what you love and do it. If running is your thing, go for it! And if you find yourself wanting to try something new after reaching that marathon goal (like I did), then do it!
Don’t ever let your workouts become a chore! Keeping them fun and something you look forward to will keep you coming back for more.”
How do genetics play a role when it comes to carbs?
Response from Jan “Crabby” Graham at crankyfitness.com:
“I recently invited an exercise physiology professor to help answer my questions about restricting carbs – Will your body start learning to burn fat as fuel more easily, as the Primal/Paleo people claim, turning you into a lean mean superhuman? Or do you need carbs to keep from collapsing into a headachy grumpy heap of sobbing fatigue?
Turns out the answer on whether low carb diets help you burn fat may be complicated, depending on your genetics, epigenetics, how much of which kind of muscles you have, and what exercises you are doing. The boring bottom line: everyone is different, so you should probably experiment to see if you do better on low carb diets or not.
In any event, don’t be a doof: refined flours and sugars and junky processed food are a bad idea no matter who you listen too; the carbs you’ll have the best luck with are whole foods packed with nutrients, fiber, and all that other good stuff.”
What workouts do you enjoy the most that help shed the pounds?
Response from Roni Noone at ronisweigh.com:
“Honestly, I lost all my weight through diet changes and walking. I really think walking is the best place to start. There’s no reason you can’t commit to 10 minute walk a day. Start there and increase your time/distance.
I’ve been at this weight loss/maintenance thing for 10 years and all I did was walk that first year. Then I started taking group fitness class, running and lifting weights but if I didn’t take that initial step of simply being more active I wouldn’t have never gotten to where I am today.”
What is the worst thing someone can do for their health while travelling?
Response from Julie Wilcox at juliewilcoxmethod.com:
“The worst thing someone can do for their health while traveling is eat fast food.”
What type of home gym equipment is best for working out, losing weight, and building muscle, without mentioning brands?
Response from Danny at treadmillreviews.com:
“We specialize in treadmill equipment but we know that any modern home equipment that focuses on cardio, and endurance training will do what is needed. Within the treadmill space, I personally recommend an incline trainer as it allows you to get a much more effective workout in shorter periods of time.
Outside of treadmills, I really like exercise bikes and good old-fashioned weight sets (as long as you can have the proper safety measures in place).
People will be dropping weight with at home machines if they combine their workouts with a healthy lifestyle. A healthy heart from cardio exercise will also have a positive effect on weight loss and muscle gain.”
What training methods have you seen for runners who want to keep off the pounds between races?
Response from Phong Chieng at trail-running-blog.com:
“I usually take anywhere from one day to up to a week off after a race. I feel like I earned it by running so hard in the race.
But my best advice to keeping off unwanted pounds between races is to get back to your pre-race routine. My routine so far has been one day of soccer, 3 days of light cardio/gym and the weekend for longer runs.”
What advice do you have for those struggling to take that next step to healthy eating, such as joining Weight Watchers?
Response from Roni Noone at greenlitebites.com:
“I no longer follow ‘weight loss diets.’ My goal is to eat yummy, healthy food in moderation. I really don’t think there is a silver bullet. I’ve found success by enjoying the process of trying new, healthy foods and watching my portions.”
The Keys to Weight Loss Success
Losing weight should lead to a long-term plan for healthy living. It’s true that some quick fixes do work. However, they’re only temporary fixes. When a crash diet is over, you’re still left with the unhealthy eating habits you had before. Crash exercise routines can be dangerous, and don’t lead to long-term results.
Plus, even if you do shed a few pounds, they’ll just come right back as you return to your old routines.
So, what’s the answer to losing weight the healthy way? You have to completely change your lifestyle. That means eating healthy all day… every day. Plan your meals each day so there are no hunger emergencies that can lead to bad eating. Be sure to plan out your meals, as well as your daily snacks, too!
Living a healthy lifestyle also means following an effective workout routine. For some, this means hitting the gym. For others, running is the fitness passion that works. Trail running is one of the most exhilarating fitness routines available. You’ll certainly lose weight. And, as long as you stick to trail running for the long-haul, you’ll continue to maintain a healthy weight for a lifetime.